Days of Roar: A Free Press Sports Detroit Tigers Podcast

The Detroit Tigers had a 3-3 record this past week, going 2-1 against the Baltimore Orioles and 1-2 against the Cincinnati Reds. But the Tigers still have a 46-27 record — best in the American League Central by nine games, best in the AL by 2.5 games and best in MLB by 0.5 games. Tigers ace Tarik Skubal appeared on the Barstool podcast, "Pardon My Take," and said he would sign for 10 years, $425 million when he becomes a free agent after the 2026 season. Is he worth that contract? Also: We explain why Skubal's status with the Tigers is ultimately up to owner Christopher Ilitch. As for the team, the Tigers have a 17-12 record in the last 30 days, since May 16. The offense ranks 20th in MLB a 96 wRC+, the starting rotation ranks first with a 2.53 ERA and the bullpen ranks 25th with a 4.68 ERA. What problems are just part of the ebbs and flows of the season, and what needs to be addressed before it's too late? The trade deadline is still more than a month away, scheduled for 6 p.m. July 31, but it's never too early to look at options for the Tigers, needing a high-leverage reliever and a position player for the left side of the infield. Other topics include All-Star Game voting and injury updates about Reese Olson and Matt Vierling.Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

The Detroit Tigers won two of three games against the Chicago Cubs in a potential World Series preview between the American League's best team and the National League's best team. To break it all down, ESPN reporter Jesse Rogers — who covers the Cubs and White Sox — joins the Days of Roar podcast. He shares his thoughts on how the Tigers became the best team in baseball, Javier Báez's resurgence, the Cubs' rise in the NL, and big news surrounding White Sox ownership. Evan Petzold and Mark Gorosh dive into the Tigers' offense — which has fallen from top five in the first 44 games to bottom five over the last 23 games. They also talk about other key topics, including Colt Keith at third base, Riley Greene's strikeout issues, Kerry Carpenter's hamstring, the latest injury report, and a season-ending injury to top prospect Bryce Rainer. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

Tarik Skubal is the ace of the Detroit Tigers — so should manager A.J. Hinch allow him to pitch deeper into games, even in late May? After throwing a complete game shutout on 94 pitches, Skubal was pulled at 90 pitches after seven scoreless innings and replaced by reliever Beau Brieske. By the eighth inning, the Tigers were trailing and ultimately lost, 1-0, to the Kansas City Royals in a key American League Central matchup. Hear from Hinch and former Tigers ace Justin Verlander about Skubal's workload, including why Hinch made the decision to pull him from the game. Also on this episode: Parker Meadows returns from the injured list to make his 2025 season debut, with Justyn-Henry Malloy optioned to Triple-A Toledo; West Michigan Whitecaps broadcaster Dan Hasty talks about top prospects Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark, Josue Briceño, plus a bounce-back season for Izaac Pacheco; injury updates on Jackson Jobe, Matt Vierling, Reese Olson and Sawyer Gipson-Long; the Spencer Torkelson-Riley Greene show continues. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

The Detroit Tigers have a 35-20 record after 55 games in the 2025 season. After one-third of the schedule, the Days of Roar podcast breaks down several important topics: What expectations do we have for the Tigers moving forward? Are there any reasons to be concerned? What players will step up in the next 54 games? Can another American League Central team create trouble for the Tigers? We also talk about the greatness of Tarik Skubal, specifically the first complete game shutout of his career against the Cleveland Guardians. It may have been the most dominant single-game performance in Tigers history, even greater than Justin Verlander's no-hitters. Also: Dillon Dingler, who worked behind the plate for Skubal's masterpiece, has emerged as the No. 1 catcher for the Tigers, surpassing Jake Rogers. To wrap up, we provide injury updates on Parker Meadows, Reese Olson, Wenceel Pérez and Sawyer Gipson-Long. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

The Detroit Tigers continue to thrive as the first MLB team to reach 30 wins in the 2025 season — a milestone that's contributed to the campaign nickname "Year of Javy," courtesy of Tigers TV voice Jason Benetti. But the Days of Roar podcast is ready to add a new theme: "Summer of Tork." Javier Báez continues to shine, single-handedly winning two key games against the Red Sox and Blue Jays, while Spencer Torkelson is on pace for 41 home runs and 131 RBIs, looking like 2022 Pete Alonso. Despite Detroit's hot start, the American League Central remains competitive, with the Twins, Guardians and Royals all already achieving 25 wins. Bobby Nightengale Jr., the Twins beat writer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, joins the show fresh off Minnesota's 13-game winning streak. Looking ahead to the July 31 trade deadline, could a right-handed hitting third baseman like Nolan Arenado be the upgrade the Tigers need to win their first World Series since 1984? Plus, the Tigers are getting Jake Rogers, Matt Vierling and Casey Mize back from their injuries this week, with Parker Meadows expected to return next month. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

Former Detroit Tigers player Curtis Granderson, a three-time All-Star over 16 MLB seasons, joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to discuss the Tigers, drawing comparisons between the 2006 Tigers and 2025 Tigers. He shared insight into the Tigers' run to the World Series in 2006 as a 25-year-old player, as well as his view of the Tigers' success in 2025 as a 44-year-old national TV analyst. Additionally, Evan and Mark discuss the difficult upcoming schedule, the dominance of ace Tarik Skubal and how the roster will change in the near future with Casey Mize's injury and Matt Vierling's rehab assignment. Skubal is the first player in MLB history to have a six-start stretch with at least 50 strikeouts, no more than one walk and an ERA below 1.00, but is he entering Justin Verlander territory? We explain what that means, and why it's happening now. Evan and Mark also evaluate Jack Flaherty's fastball and provide an update on Parker Meadows' injury. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

As Evan Petzold returns from paternity leave, the Detroit Tigers hold the best record in the American League (22-13) and lead MLB with a plus-63 run differential through 35 games in the 2025 season. They've also launched a league-leading 20 home runs since April 28, doing so in the first seven games of their 10-game road trip. What has stood out most over the first 35 games? And what should we expect from Javier Báez moving forward? Tigers radio analyst Bobby Scales joins the Days of Roar podcast to break down Detroit's early success, hitting coach Michael Brdar's game planning, and how opposing pitchers are adjusting to Spencer Torkelson, plus he shares his take on Báez's resurgence.To close the show, Evan and Mark Gorosh analyze the Tigers' decision to cut struggling pitcher Kenta Maeda, share injury updates and debate a key question: Which former No. 1 overall pick inspires more confidence — Spencer Torkelson or Casey Mize? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

After a series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers last week, the Tigers went on to clinch series wins against the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, and sweep the Baltimore Orioles. With Evan still away handling baby Petzold duties, Mark brings back Freep high school sports reporter and current pinch Tigers beat reporter Jared Ramsey to help discuss what factors are leading to the Tigers’ strong start to the 2025 season. Beyond valuable pitching from both starters and the bullpen, the guys hone in on the noteworthy month Zach McKinstry is having, as well as the impact Dylan Dingler is making with his bat and behind the plate. Mark and Jared also discuss the continued positive contributions of Javier Báez and Spencer Torkelson. The guys also offer updates on the rehab timelines for Matt Vierling, Parker Meadows, and check in on the minor leaguers including Bryce Rainer.

With Evan still out on the PL (paternity leave), Mark brings in Detroit Free Press high school sports reporter Jared Ramsey, who’s been covering the Tigers for the past week. The guys talk the team’s series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers and series win over the Kansas City Royals. Jared and Mark cover the strong starts from Casey Mike, Jackson Jobe and how Spencer Torkelson is continuing to hit this season. While the vibes overall for the team remain good, not all is well for the Tigers as Riley Greene’s slump continues to linger. The guys take a deep dive into what’s looking different so far for the star outfielder. Later in the show, Mark and Jared preview the upcoming matchups against the San Diego Padres and Baltimore Orioles. The guys also offer updates on player injuries at both the major and minor leagues, plus Mark proposes a dark horse free agent candidate the team could pursue for bullpen help that fans should recognize.

With a 4-2 week, the Detroit Tigers have remained competitive while missing some key pieces due to injuries. With Evan still away, Mark brings on a cavalcade of content creators that cover the organization at the major and minor league levels. To start off the show, manager of Bless You Boys Brandon Day helps Mark summarize what factors aid the team in winning series. After the break, along with Brandon, Mark welcomes to the show Rogelio Castillo and Chris Brown of The Detroit Tigers Minor League Report to share injury updates on two of the Tigers’ vital prospects. Scott Bentley of Locked on Tigers shares his general impressions with the team so far into this season and helps preview the matchup Milwaukee Brewers. Plus, friend of the pod Mike Sicilia shares insights into what to do with prospect Max Clark and Spencer Torkelson’s impressive start to the 2025 season.

With Evan away with this week, Mark brings in pinch co-host Bobby Scales to help break down a strong week for the Detroit Tigers. The guys recap the team’s series win against the Seattle Mariners and the homestead sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Mark and Bobby analyze the continuation of the team’s 2024 grind culture and highlight the noteworthy contributions from Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene, and Kerry Carpenter. The guys also talk what they’ve seen from Jackson Jobe in his past two starts and how position player chaos has been working out to start the season. Later in the show, Mark and Bobby preview the upcoming series against the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins. With the Yankees coming to town, the guys also cover the buzz surrounding the torpedo bats and why they may be more of a fad rather than a game changer.

The Detroit Tigers lost all three games to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but there's more to the story. Evan Petzold and Mark Gorosh dive into the team's culture, Spencer Torkelson's resurgence and other key takeaways from the first series of the 2025 season. They also preview the upcoming matchups against the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox, including Jackson Jobe's first MLB start. Tigers radio analyst Bobby Scales — a former MLB player and executive — joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to discuss Ryan Kreidler in center field, Kerry Carpenter's usage against left-handed pitchers, and how Torkelson rediscovered the best version of himself at the plate. With the Tigers on the West Coast, Evan took a trip to Triple-A Toledo to talk with Jason Foley, Jace Jung and Justyn-Henry Malloy. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

Opening Day has arrived! The Detroit Tigers play the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:10 p.m. Thursday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, beginning the 2025 season. Evan and Mark discuss the final roster moves (Spencer Torkelson in, Justyn-Henry Malloy out), another outfield injury (Wenceel Pérez), Ryan Kreidler as the primary center fielder and a flurry of predictions in this special "Days of Roar" bonus episode. Stay tuned every Monday for regularly scheduled episodes. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

With Opening Day just three days away, the Detroit Tigers still have tough decisions to make to finalize their 26-man roster before facing the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Three position players — Spencer Torkelson, Justyn-Henry Malloy and Jahmai Jones — are vying for one spot, while relievers Andrew Chafin, Brenan Hanifee and Brant Hurter are battling for a role in the bullpen. The roster battle became more complex after the Tigers signed outfielder Manuel Margot to a one-year contract, helping to cover the absence of center fielder Parker Meadows for at least another four weeks. The starting rotation is also set with five pitchers, and a pitcher making $10 million was sent to the bullpen. After the break, Dodgers beat writer Jack Harris joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to preview the Tigers' opening series against the star-studded Dodgers, discussing Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and how the Dodgers built a model franchise. After talking to Jack, Evan and Mark tackle an intriguing question: Would Gleyber Torres consider moving off second base for this culture-driven Tigers team? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

Producer's note: After recording, the Detroit Tigers optioned Jace Jung to Triple-A Toledo, which means he won't make the Tigers' Opening Day roster. Keep that in mind as you listen to this episode. With 10 days until Opening Day, the position battles for the Tigers in spring training have heated up to the max. The Tigers have 10 of 13 position players locked in, three of five starting pitchers locked in, and seven of eight relief pitchers locked in. A lot could happen in the final week of camp, but the Opening Day roster is coming into focus with clear frontrunners in those competitions. Still, the Tigers have a lot of questions to answer as the regular season approaches.Center fielder Parker Meadows has been ruled out for Opening Day with an upper arm nerve issue, so how long will Wenceel Pérez be relied upon as the primary center fielder? Without Jace Jung, is a platoon of Zach McKinstry and Andy Ibáñez good enough at third base? Most notably, should the Tigers have just put Jung on the roster because of his long-term upside on offense?Other topics include Javier Báez and Spencer Torkelson testing out new positions, Riley Greene in center field, the Spring Breakout prospect game (Bryce Rainer!), and what we saw from Andrew Navigato. Another thing: Did Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris do enough this offseason to prepare the Tigers for success this season? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

Jason Benetti — the TV voice of the Detroit Tigers and Michigan Sportscaster of the Year — joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to discuss a variety of topics, including his 2025 preview and 2024 reflections, both for the broadcast team and the baseball team. Benetti breaks down his iconic call during the 2024 postseason run: "A city that doesn't care about the odds has a baseball team to match." He also shares insight into the A.J. Hinch effect and what he's looking for out of Tarik Skubal, Riley Greene and Jackson Jobe in 2025. In addition to Benetti, Evan and Mark recap the past week of spring training games, share an injury update on Parker Meadows and evaluate the signing of José Urquidy. Two important questions are addressed: Which player is most crucial to the Tigers' success in 2025? And how good can the starting rotation become, especially if Casey Mize continues his strong performances? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

The Detroit Tigers have wrapped up their first week of spring training games, with just 24 days left until Opening Day on March 27 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Tigers TV analyst Andy Dirks joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to break down the upcoming season, both for the team and the broadcast booth. He answers these key questions, among other things: What's it like working with Jason Benetti and Dan Dickerson? How does it feel as a player to be in a roster battle? Should Jace Jung be the everyday third baseman? Meanwhile, the Tigers face some key injury concerns, with Matt Vierling and Parker Meadows sidelined. Those injuries leave questions about center field and the Opening Day roster. On the pitching side, Jackson Jobe is making a strong case for a rotation spot after two starts this spring. Other topics include roster predictions, Andrew Chafin's minor league deal and the upcoming first round of cuts. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

The first two weeks of spring training are in the books, and the Detroit Tigers are off to an undefeated start with a 2-0 record in the Grapefruit League. As roster battles heat up, key storylines emerge, including Jace Jung’s push for the third base job, Trey Sweeney’s situation at shortstop, and Justyn-Henry Malloy’s power bat. The Tigers are hoping Jung can lock down third base for the 2025 Opening Day roster, but will his spring performance be enough to secure the spot? Bobby Scales, the Tigers’ radio analyst, joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to discuss his experience reporting to spring training both as a player and as an executive. He shares his insights on the offseason additions, Jung’s opportunity to win the job at third base, the expectations for young players, and how to assess spring training performances. With Alex Cobb’s injury creating an opening in the starting rotation, a Kenta Maeda vs. Casey Mize competition for the fifth spot is underway. What have we learned about Kenta Maeda’s early camp performance? Plus, updates on Colt Keith and Justyn-Henry Malloy at first base, thoughts on the automated ball-strike challenge system, and when we can expect Javier Báez to make his spring debut. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

Spring training is underway for the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Florida. There were many takeaways in the first five days of camp, including Riley Greene's diet, Spencer Torkelson's comments, Casey Mize's sliders and Jace Jung's opportunity, among other things. Most notably, the Tigers have a businesslike vibe behind the scenes without letting their emotions get too high or too low. The same was true for the Tigers during their 31-11 run to the postseason in the 2024 season. The culture has translated into the 2025 season. Evan and Mark share their evaluations of the Tigers in the 2024-25 offseason, featuring five external additions: Alex Cobb, Gleyber Torres, Tommy Kahnle, Jack Flaherty and John Brebbia. Who were the best additions, and who could've been left on the free-agent market? As for Cobb, the veteran suffered a right hip injury and won't be ready for Opening Day. How will the Tigers replace Cobb in the starting rotation? It could be a competition between Maeda and Mize. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

The Boston Red Sox signed third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract with an opt-out clause after the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers offered six years, $171.5 million with an opt-out clause after the 2026 season. But Bregman turned down a long-term contract from the Tigers in favor of a short-term contract from the Red Sox, giving him $40 million per season and the option to return to the free-agent market as soon as the upcoming offseason. What's next for the Tigers at third base? Could a Nolan Arenado trade happen? Is Matt Vierling the everyday third baseman? What about prospect Jace Jung? This breaking news episode of the "Days of Roar" podcast examines every possibility for the Tigers with 2025 spring training underway. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal — the 2024 American League Cy Young winner — joins the "Days of Roar" podcast as pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Lakeland, Florida. Skubal talks about his 2024 season, the development of his pitches, and his expectations for the 2025 season, along with discussing fatherhood, lessons learned from former teammate Jordan Zimmermann, joining the MLB Players Association executive subcommittee, what he thinks about free agency, and the make of his new SUV. Marquee Sports Network player development analyst Lance Brozdowski also joins "Days of Roar" to evaluate all of the starting pitchers on the Tigers' 40-man roster, including his thoughts on Jackson Jobe's new pitch. Evan and Mark also break down the most important storyline for the Tigers in spring training. (Hint: It's third base.) Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

The countdown is on: Detroit Tigers pitchers and catchers report in nine days to spring training in Lakeland, Florida. This past week, the Tigers signed starting pitcher Jack Flaherty to a two-year, $35 million contract and relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle to a one-year, $7.75 million contract, but third baseman Alex Bregman remains a free agent. The Tigers are still interested in signing Bregman, even after signing Flaherty, but what are the odds the Tigers will land him? After Bregman talk, Evan and Mark discuss the player they're most excited to watch throughout spring training. Evan selected a player who needs to hit for more power; Mark selected a potential MVP candidate. For our guest, LaMond Pope — the Chicago White Sox beat writer for the Chicago Tribune — joins "Days of Roar" to explain the latest happenings on the South Side, from covering the worst team in modern MLB history last season to a new manager in Will Venable this season. Pope also discusses the Garrett Crochet trade, several big-name prospects in the White Sox farm system and the general direction of the organization under general manager Chris Getz. To wrap up, Evan and Mark talk more about Jack Flaherty signing with the Tigers. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

The Detroit Tigers signed right-hander Jack Flaherty to a two-year, $35 million contract with an opt-out clause after the first season. He pitched for the Tigers last season, posting a 2.95 ERA in 18 starts, before the Tigers traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline for two prospects. Evan and Mark break down the Flaherty reunion, how president of baseball operations Scott Harris structured the contract, the current state of the Tigers' starting rotation and how the Flaherty signing impacts the Alex Bregman sweepstakes — all in this special "Days of Roar" breaking news episode. Check back every Monday for regularly scheduled episodes. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

Producer note: This podcast has been updated with comments from president of baseball operations Scott Harris.The Detroit Tigers signed right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle to a 1-year, $7.75 million contract. Evan and Mark break down the signing, discuss the current state of the Tigers' bullpen and explain how the Kahnle signing impacts the Alex Bregman sweepstakes in this special "Days of Roar" bonus episode. Stay tuned every Monday for regularly scheduled episodes.You can find this week's earlier episode wherever you listen to podcasts including:Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

In this episode of "Days of Roar," Detroit Tigers top prospect Jackson Jobe joins the show to discuss his 2024 MLB debut, offseason adjustments for two-strike counts, pitch development and personal/team goals for the 2025 season, among many other things. As one of MLB's top five prospects, Jobe is projected to join the Tigers' Opening Day starting rotation in 2025. Evan and Mark also dive into the Alex Bregman saga with new insight from Houston Astros beat writer Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Astros re-entered the race to re-sign Bregman, putting their old six-year, $156 million offer on the table again. Could the Tigers counter with a more lucrative offer to bring him to the team? Hear how Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal's endorsement might sway the Bregman decision. Aside from Bregman, is there any hope for a reunion with Jack Flaherty? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

Former Detroit Tigers player Carlos Guillén — a three-time All-Star who played 14 MLB seasons — joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to discuss teammate Ichiro Suzuki joining the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Guillén also talks about three other names in the Hall of Fame conversation: C.C. Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran. Does A-Rod deserve to be in the Hall of Fame despite being suspended for performance-enhancing drugs? Guillén has an opinion about that. After the Hall of Fame talk, Guillén breaks down his eight-year career with the Tigers, which included playing for Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland, getting to the World Series in 2006 and hitting a legendary home run off Jered Weaver. In other segments of the show, Evan and Mark provide the latest update on the Alex Bregman situation, check out the available relievers on the free-agent market, evaluate Roki Sasaki's decision not to meet with the Tigers and consider what it means if the Tigers are done adding to the 2025 roster. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

This episode of "Days of Roar" features two special guests: Detroit Tigers third baseman/outfielder Matt Vierling and Baseball America prospect insider Ben Badler. To start the show, Evan and Mark discuss Tigers legend Justin Verlander signing a one-year, $15 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. Interestingly, this is the same deal — in terms of years and money — that Alex Cobb secured from the Tigers. Should the Tigers have signed Verlander instead of Cobb? The answer depends on balancing business and baseball considerations. Ben Badler provides insight into 16-year-old Dominican outfielder Cris Rodriguez, who is signing with the Tigers as part of the international signing period. Rodriguez is the highest-ranked international prospect the Tigers have ever signed, at No. 4 on Baseball America's list. Meanwhile, Matt Vierling dives into a variety of topics, including team culture, personal leadership, developing pull-side power as a hitter, game planning for pitchers, and even his 2012 Ford Escape. To finish the show, Evan and Mark revisit the chances of Tarik Skubal signing a long-term extension after agreeing to a $10.15 million salary in his second of three arbitration-eligible years before free agency. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

The New Year is underway, and with it, Evan and Mark have New Year's resolutions for the Detroit Tigers in the 2025 calendar year. The resolutions include Tarik Skubal, Kevin McGonigle, the American League Central and making a big splash via trade or free agency. What does all that mean? Listen to find out. After the break, Robert Ford, the radio voice of the Houston Astros, joins "Days of Roar" to share insider insight about Tigers target Alex Bregman. Topics include Bregman's relationship with Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, his leadership behind the scenes, his on-field performance and more. Evan and Mark also tackle the big question surrounding the 2024-25 offseason: Is it Bregman or bust for the Tigers? To wrap up, we take a look at the Tigers' bullpen. Jason Foley, Tyler Holton, Beau Brieske and Will Vest are the only relievers guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster. Do the Tigers need to add externally to their bullpen? The guys talk which free agents the team could consider. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

Happy New Year, from the "Days of Roar" podcast! In the first episode of 2025, Evan and Mark break down the Detroit Tigers signing Gleyber Torres to a one-year, $15 million contract, including his on-field performance, his $500,000 assignment bonus, and his goal of getting more than $100 million in free agency next offseason. After signing Torres, the Tigers still need another right-handed hitter to balance the lineup. Where do things stand with Alex Bregman? The Tigers have strong interest in signing Bregman to play third base, and Bregman has interest in the Tigers, but there remains a gap in value with 41 days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training. After the break, Pete Caldera, the Yankees beat writer for The Bergen Record, joins the show to share everything there is to know about Torres, who spent his entire seven-year MLB career with the Yankees. After that, Evan and Mark discuss Colt Keith's move from second base to first base, as well as what that means for first baseman Spencer Torkelson. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

In a Christmas edition, Evan and Mark discuss what Santa needs to bring the Detroit Tigers. The wish list includes the health of star players, some luck, a lot of player development and a right-handed hitter — namely Alex Bregman. Numerous first basemen have been traded or signed in free agency, but the Tigers haven't been involved in those moves. What does that mean for Spencer Torkelson? FanGraphs senior writer Dan Szymborski, who developed the ZiPS projection system, joins Days of Roar for the first time to share 2025 projections for the Tigers, covering the entire team as well as individual players. After discussing the Tigers' roster, Szymborski explains how his projection model produced player comparisons for top prospects Kevin McGonigle (compared to Alex Bregman) and Max Clark (compared to Johnny Damon). To wrap up, Evan and Mark explore the likelihood of Alex Bregman signing with the Tigers, especially since it's now confirmed that Bregman won't be returning to the Houston Astros. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

The Detroit Tigers signed right-hander Alex Cobb to a one-year, $15 million contract, adding the 37-year-old veteran to their starting rotation alongside Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson and Jackson Jobe. But is Cobb the right move? Evan and Mark explore the pros and cons of the Cobb signing, along with the Tigers' need to upgrade at third base or first base to contend for the American League Central in 2025. Could free agents like Alex Bregman and Paul Goldschmidt or trade candidates like Yandy Díaz fill the gaps? Things are trending in the right direction with Bregman. The guys break down the potential competition for Spencer Torkelson as Colt Keith and Justyn-Henry Malloy take ground balls at first base this offseason. Evan also shares his 2025 Opening Day roster prediction 1.0, highlighting concerns at third base, first base, shortstop, the bench and the bullpen. Additionally, how do the Max Fried and Blake Snell contracts impact Tarik Skubal's value, both now and in the future? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

In this special "Days of Roar" bonus episode, Evan Petzold welcomes USA TODAY Sports MLB columnist and insider Bob Nightengale to recap MLB's Winter Meetings in Dallas. Evan and Bob break down the biggest news from the past week, including outfielder Juan Soto signing a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets. Do the Detroit Tigers have a chance to sign third baseman Alex Bregman? If not, should the Tigers consider trading for third baseman Nolan Arenado? Why did the Boston Red Sox trade for left-hander Garrett Crochet? How is Buster Posey different from Farhan Zaidi as the president of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants? Why did the Cleveland Guardians trade Gold Glove-winning second baseman Andrés Giménez? What is the free-agent market like for shortstop Ha-Seong Kim? Is Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki already a lock to the Los Angeles Dodgers? For more on the Tigers, Evan and Bob discuss 2024 American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and the chances of a contract extension before he becomes a free agent after the 2026 season. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here. Read Evan's most recent work here

The Winter Meetings will take place from Dec. 9-11 in Dallas. So far, the Tigers haven't made any offseason trades or signings, but that doesn't mean they're inactive. The Tigers have taken a patient approach to the free-agent and trade markets, as we reported coming out of the general manager meetings in early November. However, the Tigers are still targeting at least one starting pitcher and at least one right-handed hitter. Starting pitcher Walker Buehler is one free agent the Tigers have shown interest in. To explore further, Nick Pollack of Pitcher List breaks down Buehler's career, the importance of his fastball and how the Tigers' pitching department could help him improve. Later on, JJ Cooper of Baseball America joins to discuss the top 10 prospects in the Tigers' organization, led by Jackson Jobe. Pollack also discusses Tarik Skubal winning the Cy Young Award, while Cooper shares insights into how the Tigers have evolved as an organization in recent years. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here   

The Detroit Tigers are one week away from the winter meetings in Dallas. Evan and Mark evaluate right-handed hitters for the Tigers to acquire in free agency and trade this offseason, including new information about free-agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim. The guys also try to make sense of what Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said about Wenceel Pérez and Justyn-Henry Malloy. Can Pérez add infield positions to his profile on defense? Will the Tigers try to move Malloy to first base? Later, Right-handed reliever Tyler Mattison, whom the Tigers recently added to the 40-man roster, joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to chat about being protected from the Rule 5 draft, transitioning from starter to reliever and his ongoing rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to chat with Evan and Mark about Tarik Skubal winning the 2024 American League Cy Young Award. Rogers also talks about calling pitches and making in-game adjustments, his relationship with manager A.J. Hinch, being named a Gold Glove finalist, why "pitching chaos" worked in 2024 and his excitement for the 2025 season. Aside from Rogers, Evan and Mark tip their cap to Hinch for finishing third in AL Manager of the Year Award voting and break down the roster moves made by the Tigers, which included pitching prospect Tyler Mattison. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

Evan and Mark are still waiting for the Detroit Tigers to make their first moves of the 2024-25 offseason. We break down Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki with help from Marquee Sports Network player development analyst Lance Brozdowski, who explains Sasaki's pitch mix and reveals if the Tigers have a chance to sign him. After that, Evan and Mark share how the Tigers can benefit in the short term and long term from signing another pitcher to a one-year contract, such as Walker Buehler or Frankie Montas. Ben Verlander, an analyst for FOX Sports and the brother of Justin Verlander, joins the podcast to talk about the Jack Flaherty trade, watching the Tigers advance to the postseason, hitting a home run off his brother in 2016 spring training and much more. To wrap up, Evan and Mark discuss a potential Javier Báez-Trey Sweeney platoon at shortstop and the prospects the Tigers could protect from the Rule 5 draft. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

The general manager meetings took place last week in San Antoino, giving Evan and Mark plenty of topics to discuss. Evan recaps what he learned about the Detroit Tigers at the GM meetings, including an update on free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. If not Bregman, should the Tigers trade for Miami Marlins slugger Jake Burger? Burger, a right-handed hitter, blends contact and power on offense and plays third base and first base on defense. Most importantly, the former No. 11 overall draft pick is under team control through the 2028 season. After that, Evan and Mark project the pitching plan for the Tigers in 2025, as well as an early look at the starting rotation. To wrap up, Evan and Mark praise prospect Thayron Liranzo for his game-winning home run in the Arizona Fall League and talk about veteran Justin Verlander in free agency. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch joins the "Days of Roar" podcast to chat with Evan and Mark. Hinch talks about the fans in Detroit, building a culture for the team over the past four seasons, players buying into team philosophies, the opener-bulk reliever pitching strategy after the trade deadline, the postseason run, and how the 2025 Tigers could look different than the 2024 Tigers. Before Hinch, the guys discuss the projected Opening Day payroll and how much money the Tigers can add to the books before the 2025 season, plus if the Tigers should trade for Toronto Blue Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. After Hinch, Mark and Evan break down three other trade ideas for the Tigers to upgrade at first base. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

A star-studded episode begins with Dan Dickerson — the radio voice of the Detroit Tigers — joining Evan Petzold and Mark Gorosh to break down the 2024 season. Dickerson discusses A.J. Hinch's genius, Tarik Skubal's Cy Young campaign, Spencer Torkelson's continued struggles and many more topics about the Tigers. He also shares insight into his broadcasting career after celebrating his 25th anniversary on the job, and he even provides his offseason expectations for the Tigers ahead of the 2025 season. Geoff Pontes, prospect writer for Baseball America, joins the show, too. Pontes evaluates Tigers prospects Josue Briceño, Thayron Liranzo and Rayner Castillo in the Arizona Fall League, sharing his projected MLB debuts for Briceño and Liranzo. Aside from guests, Evan and Mark debate about Torkelson, Casey Mize and the chances of reuniting with Jack Flaherty in free agency. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

Let the offseason begin as Evan Petzold returns from his honeymoon to join Mark Gorosh for a full episode. Evan and Mark break down the performance of the 2024 Detroit Tigers, with grades for hitting, pitching, defense and coaching. Kerry Carpenter has been one of the best hitters against right-handed pitchers in his career, but is he underrated? Mike Ferrin, co-host of Power Alley on MLB Network Radio, joins to talk about how the Tigers advanced to the postseason, what the Tigers should do in the offseason and the World Series matchup between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. When asked to pick one of three free agents, Ferrin selected third baseman Alex Bregman over first baseman Christian Walker and outfielder Anthony Santander. To wrap up, Evan and Mark shared their free-agent preference. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

With Evan still away on his honeymoon, Mark once again enlists the help of Tigers radio analyst and friend of the pod Bobby Scales to co-host the show. Mark and Bobby break down the nearly unprecedented season for the 2024 Tigers and begin looking at how the team's playoff run could impact the 2025 season. With greater expectations now formed for the young ball club, how might Scott Harris and A.J. Hinch bolster this seemingly new era of Tigers baseball? The guys attempt to parse the tea leaves for answers from the Tigers' season ending press conference. After Bobby exits the show, we find that you can take the baseball beat writer out of Detroit but you can't take the baseball beat out of the writer as Evan joins AGAIN while still on his honeymoon with additional analysis from the press conference. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

With Evan away on his honeymoon, Mark brings in Tigers radio analyst and friend of the pod Bobby Scales to pinch-hit as co-host. To open the show, the guys recap the Tigers' dominant performance against the Houston Astros. Afterwards, Bobby helps break down what went wrong for the Tigers in game one of the ALDS and how the team can best bounce back against the Guardians' standout bullpen. The duo also talk the Monday's Tarik Skubal vs. Matt Boyd pitching matchup, Jackson Jobe's confidence and more. To close out the show and because he's just too dedicated to his beat, Evan joins remotely for some additional analysis. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

The Detroit Tigers are ready to play against the Houston Astros in the American League wild-card series, a best-of-three matchup with all three games at Minute Maid Park in Houston. To preview the series, Astros beat writer Chandler Rome of The Athletic joins to discuss A.J. Hinch, Justin Verlander, Yordan Alvarez and many other topics. We also share the keys to the wild-card series and try to explain how the Tigers went on their 31-11 run to advance to the postseason. To wrap up, we provide our predictions for Tigers vs. Astros in the 2024 MLB playoffs. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

The Detroit Tigers won 4-1 over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night at Comerica Park, clinching a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2014. Mark and Evan record a special episode to break down the historic win, share their favorite memories from the celebration and briefly look ahead to the playoffs. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

The Detroit Tigers have passed the Minnesota Twins to claim the third and final spot in the American League wild-card race, with six games remaining. To get there, the Tigers posted a 27-11 record in their last 38 games, all while the Twins and Kansas City Royals have fallen apart. The postseason odds went from 0.2% on Aug. 11 to 70.7% on Sept. 23. Andy Dirks, former Tigers player and current TV analyst, joins to discuss the hottest team in baseball, as well as what to expect in the final six games. Everyone on the roster deserves credit, but which players have contributed the most to the sustained success? Another thing: Do the Tigers already have a core in place for the 2025 season? Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here   

The Detroit Tigers won four of six games on their latest homestand against the Colorado Rockies and Baltimore Orioles, giving them 22 wins in their last 32 games. The Tigers trail the Minnesota Twins by 2.5 games — which is 3.5 games considering the tiebreaker — in the race for the third and final spot in the American League wild card, with 12 games remaining. Can the Tigers actually catch the Twins? Turns out, the Twins have lost 17 of their last 26 games. We check in with Bobby Nightengale Jr., the Twins beat writer for the Minnesota Star Tribune, to find out what's happening to the Twins, from three young starters struggling to two veteran hitters returning from injuries. We also discuss the Tigers' near-perfect bullpen since Aug. 11, dominant pitching performances from Keider Montero and Brant Hurter, the return of Reese Olson from the injured list, and Jackson Jobe's Triple-A Toledo debut. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

The Detroit Tigers traveled to the West Coast and won three of six games against the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics. The chase for the postseason continues, as the Tigers are 3½ games behind the Minnesota Twins for the third and final spot in the American League wild-card. However, the Tigers actually sit even further behind the Twins in the wild-card race because of the new tiebreaker rule, which has been in place since 2022 when the playoffs expanded from 10 teams to 12 teams. After talking playoffs, Tigers radio analyst Bobby L. Scales II joins to discuss the high-quality plate appearances, the young core emerging on offense and the clutch gene of Parker Meadows. To wrap up, Mark and Evan provide updates on Reese Olson (right shoulder strain) and Wenceel Pérez (left oblique strain) on their rehab assignments with Triple-A Toledo. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

The Detroit Tigers continue their winnings ways, clinching 15 of their last 21 games. Coming out of Labor Day, the Tigers are five games out of the third and final wild-card spot in the American League, looking up at the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins. What will it take for the Tigers to surpass one of those teams? Regardless, does the wild-card race change anything about how the Tigers plan to approach the offseason? To get to this point, the Tigers utilized their pitching depth to win games in August despite having just two traditional starters, thanks to the strategy created by president of baseball operations Scott Harris. Manager A.J. Hinch explains the role of the bulk reliever, as well as how it helps the Tigers win games. As for one of the starters, Tarik Skubal is running away with the AL Cy Young Award, but how dominant has he been compared  to pitchers of the past? (Hint: It's one of the best seasons in nearly 60 years.) Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

The Detroit Tigers beat up the White Sox in Chicago as part of a seven-game road trip to the Windy City against the Cubs and White Sox. Are the White Sox the worst team we've ever seen? It's quite possible. More importantly, can the Tigers exceed a .500 record in the 2024 season? The lineup features three new regular players in Dillon Dingler, Jace Jung and Trey Sweeney. How do those newcomers fit with mainstays like Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter and Colt Keith? Also, is Spencer Torkelson ever going to stay hot? After the break, Nick Pollack, the founder of PitcherList, joins the Days of Roar podcast to discuss the Cy Young-caliber season of Tarik Skubal, who ranks first in ERA (2.58), first in wins (15) and tied for first in strikeouts (193) among MLB pitchers. His best pitch is the changeup, but it's a seam-shifted wake changeup. Pollack explains exactly what that is. He also discusses other topics about the Tigers' pitching department, including Keider Montero, Reese Olson, Casey Mize, Matt Manning and players to target in upcoming free agency. To wrap up, we discuss the MLB debut of Ty Madden and if injured shortstop Javier Báez has played his final game with the Tigers.  Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

The Detroit Tigers are playing their best baseball in a long time, winning six of seven games. This week, the Tigers swept the Seattle Mariners and won two of three against the New York Yankees, including a fun 3-2 win in extra innings in the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Do the final six weeks — for anyone — factor into the plans for 2025? The Tigers called up Jace Jung and Trey Sweeney for their MLB debuts, plus the Tigers recalled Spencer Torkelson. Also, Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene returned from the injured list, all while Parker Meadows continues to be a game-changer on offense and defense. What are the expectations for Torkelson after 58 games in Triple-A Toledo? To wrap up, Mark and Evan try to answer an important question: How close are the Tigers to competing in the American League Central? Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here 

The Detroit Tigers completed a six-game West Coast trip with a 3-3 record, winning two of three games in Seattle and losing two of three in San Francisco. The Tigers aren't in postseason contention with 43 games remaining, so how much value should we place in what happens over the final six weeks of the season? A few injured players are coming back soon, including Kerry Carpenter, but Parker Meadows seems to be the No. 1 player to watch down the stretch because of his potential impact for years to come. Also, what could the starting rotation and bullpen look like on 2025 Opening Day? After that, Nate Schwartz, a writer for PitcherList, joins to discuss Process+, a new all-encompassing hitting stat that provides a comprehensive understanding of a hitter's process at the plate. He explains which Tigers have good processes and which Tigers have bad processes, solely based Process+ in the 2024 season. To wrap up, we discuss the injury to Wenceel Pérez and provide an update on Spencer Torkelson. Follow Mark on X/Twitter here. Follow Evan on X/Twitter here.  Read Evan's most recent work here